Creative Voices was born out of a need to use creativity to express ourselves, our lives, find our voices, build friendships and take care of our mental wellbeing.

Over the past few years, Classical Indian dancer, Minoti Parikh, has been working with members of the older LGBTQ+ group in Leeds. The group was formed with the purpose of introducing arts (specifically, classical Indian dance) to the members.

While the initial purpose was to introduce this dance and movement practice as a way of improving our overall health and wellbeing, it was clear that the group benefited from this creative space, beyond just the dance. The impact of these sessions on the members’ personal health and overall wellbeing inspired us to create 'Creative Voices'.

Through this space, we have explored diverse range of creative practices including spoken word, drama, song writing, lino printing etc. The project's main purpose is to give members the opportunity to build a safe space to engage in arts to improve their overall mental health. We are extremely proud to create a community of individuals who have seen a positive change in their overall health and life because of this space.

We meet at MESMAC, 22/23 Blayds Yard, Leeds LS1 4AD on Thursdays from 2-4pm (funding dependent).

For more information and to get involved, email: [email protected]